Where do the funds go?

[moonemaiden]

What does your PTA spend money from the fundraisers on? Our PTA is looking for ideas. So, I'm open to suggestions.

My suggestion had been to spend the money on PE activities. Let me clarify, it's not to dump more money into sports. My daughter's school does not have a gymnasium or a PE teacher, nor do they bring one in. All PE activities are done as a group in the community, such as swimming and golf. These are paid for by parents and can really add up through out the year. I personally feel that PE is a part of the education system and should be paid for by the education system and not expect parents to put up so much money. Not all parents have an extra $300 to throw into these mandatory activities each year per child. If the activity is mandatory, it should be paid for. Since the school system feels it can't afford these activities I suggested that the PTA pay for them. In the last year alone our PTA has raised over $20,000 and we have less than 15 students required to participate in these activities (it's a very small elementary only school). If the PTA could pay for even one of the activities it would lessen the financial burden on some of the parents. My suggestion had been voted down.

What is your take? Should community PE activities be paid for by the school system, the PTA, or the parents? If the parents have to pay, should they be mandatory? I'm interested to hear how other mom's feel on this issue.

[big-mouth-burgher]

I know I'm very lucky that my school has PE. That being said, my PTA spends it fund raiser money on a variety of things. Equipement for PE and the playground, field trips for all grades, computers and computer equipment, books for our school's library. We try hard to spend our money on the things our school isn't able to provide for our children. We also provide school supplies to every student in our school. That way they all have what they need, even if their parents can't afford to buy it. My school has 650 - 700 students in grades K - 6, so we do raise alot of money in a year and in turn spend alot. Since I'm an officer I know that our budget for this school year is over $42,000 and it all comes from fundraisers. If you're looking for a new one that raises a fair amount of money check out marketday.com. They are a food fundraiser that you do every month and your school earns 10% profit on what you sell. It's pretty easy to run and people have no problem buying food they'd be buying anyway at Costco or Sam's Club and it supports the school.

[geekgirl33]

Our school has spent Fund raised money money on all the "extras" that the budget doesn't allow like computers, field trips, colored paper.....We have also used it for celebrations.